Thank you, Ms. Washington

First Impression: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Just a few weeks ago, the talented Kerry Washington posted a photo of the new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel on instagram, talking about how obsessed she is with this product. The world heard her and many others followed suit with this obsession. My mom wanted to try it because she has incredibly dry skin so she bought some and I decided to give it a try myself. 

I was very skeptical to try this especially with my oily skin, but I have to say, I'm impressed. You hardly need any product, literally just a dab on your finger and you are set to go. It does feel greasy going on, which made me weary but to my surprise, within minutes it absorbed into my skin leaving my skin feeling soft and refreshed. 

One MAJOR problem I have with any sort of moisturizer: a few hours later, my face is back to feeling greasy and disgusting, making me skeptical of whether the product has even absorbed into my skin or is just sitting on top adding to my grease. It has been a few hours since I applied the water gel and my face still feels great, I'm pretty shocked to tell you the truth. I was expecting this to be like other skincare products I have tried, but so far, it is blowing me away. 

Since this is only a first impression post, I cannot definitively say that this is going to be a new favorite, but so far, I'm loving it. I will definitely keep you updated on if this product is working out for me. I am very excited at the prospect of potentially having a fantastic way to keep my skin hydrated without feeling greasy and oily hours later. 

Have you tried it? What do you think? 

Timing is Everything

Book Synopsis

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State - and she would do it alone. 

Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. 

Book Review

I came across Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail back in 2012 when I was browsing through a magazine and read an excerpt from the novel. Something struck me and I knew I had to read the book. I got busy with school and life, but got the book for Christmas in 2013. I began reading it immediately, but found that I could not make it past the first chapter, not because it wasn't well written, but because I am very close with my mother and when reading about Cheryl's mother's death, I found myself unable to make it through without sobbing uncontrollably. I simply didn't feel strong enough to read it at that point, so I put it aside saving it for a later date. I finally picked up the book again in December 2014, read it and was irrevocably moved.

Wild beautifully portrays the deeply honest and humbling journey Cheryl takes along the Pacific Crest Trail to find herself after being lost for a long while. Her raw account of the personal struggles she faced and the road leading back to herself is inspired. It is rare to find writing as honest as Cheryl Strayed's in Wild and it is done exquisitely.

I would recommend this book to everyone, but particularly to those feeling lost or confused about their own life. I was feeling somewhat lost when I decided to pick up the book and give it another shot and it moved me to my core, creating a new found awareness on situations in my own life that I was struggling with. I believe that timing is everything in life and for me, this novel arrived right when I needed it.

Quotes

For those who want a small sneak peak into some of the wisdom Cheryl offers in Wild: 

"Fear to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told. I decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave. Nothing could vanquish me." 

"The universe, I'd learned, was never, ever kidding. It would take whatever it wanted and it would never give it back." 

"I'd finally come to understand what it had been: a yearning for a way out, when actually what I had wanted to find was a way in."

I'm back!

Where have I been? 

It's been ages since I've blogged and I have missed it very much! I finished up my senior year at my university, getting my undergraduate degree in Psychology. Since graduating, I've moved straight into my master's program and let's just say, it's a lot to adjust to! Now that I've found a balance and gotten things settled down, I want to get back into the blog grind because it is something I thoroughly enjoyed. 

What's next? 

I am changing up my blog a little bit, still keeping the beauty part but adding on other interests of mine! I adore organizing, so I'll be featuring my home organization projects as well as my organization for school and life in general. I also plan to do a few posts catering just to getting through graduate school. I plan to do book reviews, when possible. With my busy school schedule, I don't typically have the luxury of tons of leisure time to read what I want, but I do spend my breaks with my nose in the books! 

I am going to try to post once a week, it may not always be on the same scheduled day of the week because that's a little hard with my schedule, but I am aiming for once a week! :) If you have any posts you'd like to see, please feel free to leave a comment and let me know. I'm very excited to get back into my blog and share my crazy, but amazing life with you! :)